2014 Player Review: Kyle Turner

Share on social media

We dissect the performance of the players that lifted the Rabbitohs to become champions of the 2014 NRL Telstra Premiership. Today, we look at young-gun back-rower, Kyle Turner.

Known as ‘Velcro’ – because he ‘hits and sticks’ – Turner enjoyed a dream debut season that saw the Coonabarabran product scale the heights of the Premiership in 25 appearances.

‘Hit and stick’ he did, averaging 23.3 tackles per match and regularly challenging for top-tackle honours on a weekly basis, alongside seasoned first-graders such as Sam Burgess and Issac Luke.

Turner was one of a handful of talented debutants in 2014 that helped the Rabbitohs to a 21st Premiership after coming through the ranks of the under 20s to score six tries in 2014, including a brilliant four-pointer against Parramatta that saw him soar over the Eels defence in round 19 to take a bomb and score.

In all, Turner made a total of 1205 metres with the ball in hand off 137 runs. Turner also broke 16 tackles while breaking defensive lines on seven occasions. Defensively, the young-gun made 583 tackles.